Busy, But Not Really Busy
After reading what must be the umpteenth Geoff blog about a never-ending tirade of good-times, I have become fully fed-up with my lack up updates. Of course, my last post being as depression-induced as it was, I have had neither the tools nor the motivation to write as I'm usually accustomed to.
Firstly - the computer. The laptop hard drive issue is long-gone. The issue and the drive are both long gone. Apple's customer service lied to me for over a week as I talked to service reps in Boston, India, and Toronto, all of which eventually pointed toward the light at the end of the tunnel...which happened to be the train that was the metaphor of inevitability hitting me smack in the face. For the first time in 20+ years of computing, I lost everything I've ever committed to disk (except the externally-stored iTunes library and ProTools sessions), which included every lyric, melody, riff, hook, and progression that's sprang to mind over the last 10 years or so. Perhaps it was the universe telling me that I needed to start over now that my schooling was done...or perhaps I should have just backed up my data like everyone is now very keen on advising me to do. Oh, the computer has since received a new internal drive and continued with many problematic sleep issues. It is (again) currently in the shop for repair.
Secondly - graduation. I am now a graduate of Berklee College of Music. It took many years, agonizing financial constraints, and...well, actually...I'm not quite officially done yet. The guitar department took it upon itself to pitch me a bunch of guff about technicalities of enrollment and negated my last week's effort of testing out of my final instrument proficiency. Between a C-level audition, make-up class, and failed credit, the grades and registration don't line up. The assistant chair was less than understanding about the situation when I spoke to him the day before commencement. I have not yet spoken with the head of the department about the issue. Fear of commitment? You bet!
Thirdly - where to now? I got an immediate jump on a studio internship in West Hollywood. The producer of the first PON album is now working regularly out of an L.A.-area studio and passed word through the wire about needing able-bodied help for his current overwhelming workload. Through him, I got word in to the owner and passed my resume his way. They're ready for me to start working as soon as I can show up. Showing up, however, has been more difficult to execute that I imagined. I basically need $2,000 more than I can muster in order to afford to transport myself and my necessary gear, plunk down the basic move-in costs, and somehow come up with a mode of transportation. I'll tell ya this - Los Angeles ain't no walkin' town! I'd gotten used to it after living in Boston these past few years, but the West coast requires wheels...and my only current pair is sitting in my parents' Tennessee garage. No good.
Fourthly - is that a word? Nonetheless, I had lunch with the GM of The BIRN who passed me some advice on post-graduation life and leads in L.A. He said in the years that he's been handing out advice to graduates, he's only had 1 heed his advice of "take a month off." I have been doing very little in terms of work, full-on job searching, and soul exploration, but the rest is definitely hard to come by. Much like my breaks between semesters, I'm still busying myself with mostly fruitless efforts and consuming my mind with far too much worry. Perhaps I should not have discontinued my therapy sessions so soon.
At this point, I'm being well taken care of by L and C (my usual home-away-from-home outside of Boston) and they expect nothing more than to call when I need a ride from the train station and that I'll do dishes most of the time. I hate to be sitting around not working in the studio, but with so much up in the air, I'm trying to justify taking the time just to breathe.
I had a conversation with my dad the other night about being busy. He is always at work, whether on call out on the road or working around the house. L is much the same, especially since retirement. He is working more now than ever before and has his hands busy mowing the lawn, tending to the garden or working in the shop if there's not a shift to pick up.
With Father's Day coming up, I can only think of the father figures that have bred this insatiable feeling of busyness in me. Perhaps it is simple the inclination of man to settle his need to create or nurture. Since we are not biologically responsible for it, we manifest it in some other fashion. Regardless, I am going to watch the Ben Folds DVD of making the Songs For Silverman album that I have already watched 100 times because I enjoy the album so very much. I found the deluxe edition used and bought it for the sake of giving to someone. Who yet? I don't know. But someone...and soon.
Firstly - the computer. The laptop hard drive issue is long-gone. The issue and the drive are both long gone. Apple's customer service lied to me for over a week as I talked to service reps in Boston, India, and Toronto, all of which eventually pointed toward the light at the end of the tunnel...which happened to be the train that was the metaphor of inevitability hitting me smack in the face. For the first time in 20+ years of computing, I lost everything I've ever committed to disk (except the externally-stored iTunes library and ProTools sessions), which included every lyric, melody, riff, hook, and progression that's sprang to mind over the last 10 years or so. Perhaps it was the universe telling me that I needed to start over now that my schooling was done...or perhaps I should have just backed up my data like everyone is now very keen on advising me to do. Oh, the computer has since received a new internal drive and continued with many problematic sleep issues. It is (again) currently in the shop for repair.
Secondly - graduation. I am now a graduate of Berklee College of Music. It took many years, agonizing financial constraints, and...well, actually...I'm not quite officially done yet. The guitar department took it upon itself to pitch me a bunch of guff about technicalities of enrollment and negated my last week's effort of testing out of my final instrument proficiency. Between a C-level audition, make-up class, and failed credit, the grades and registration don't line up. The assistant chair was less than understanding about the situation when I spoke to him the day before commencement. I have not yet spoken with the head of the department about the issue. Fear of commitment? You bet!
Thirdly - where to now? I got an immediate jump on a studio internship in West Hollywood. The producer of the first PON album is now working regularly out of an L.A.-area studio and passed word through the wire about needing able-bodied help for his current overwhelming workload. Through him, I got word in to the owner and passed my resume his way. They're ready for me to start working as soon as I can show up. Showing up, however, has been more difficult to execute that I imagined. I basically need $2,000 more than I can muster in order to afford to transport myself and my necessary gear, plunk down the basic move-in costs, and somehow come up with a mode of transportation. I'll tell ya this - Los Angeles ain't no walkin' town! I'd gotten used to it after living in Boston these past few years, but the West coast requires wheels...and my only current pair is sitting in my parents' Tennessee garage. No good.
Fourthly - is that a word? Nonetheless, I had lunch with the GM of The BIRN who passed me some advice on post-graduation life and leads in L.A. He said in the years that he's been handing out advice to graduates, he's only had 1 heed his advice of "take a month off." I have been doing very little in terms of work, full-on job searching, and soul exploration, but the rest is definitely hard to come by. Much like my breaks between semesters, I'm still busying myself with mostly fruitless efforts and consuming my mind with far too much worry. Perhaps I should not have discontinued my therapy sessions so soon.
At this point, I'm being well taken care of by L and C (my usual home-away-from-home outside of Boston) and they expect nothing more than to call when I need a ride from the train station and that I'll do dishes most of the time. I hate to be sitting around not working in the studio, but with so much up in the air, I'm trying to justify taking the time just to breathe.
I had a conversation with my dad the other night about being busy. He is always at work, whether on call out on the road or working around the house. L is much the same, especially since retirement. He is working more now than ever before and has his hands busy mowing the lawn, tending to the garden or working in the shop if there's not a shift to pick up.
With Father's Day coming up, I can only think of the father figures that have bred this insatiable feeling of busyness in me. Perhaps it is simple the inclination of man to settle his need to create or nurture. Since we are not biologically responsible for it, we manifest it in some other fashion. Regardless, I am going to watch the Ben Folds DVD of making the Songs For Silverman album that I have already watched 100 times because I enjoy the album so very much. I found the deluxe edition used and bought it for the sake of giving to someone. Who yet? I don't know. But someone...and soon.